DOZENS of stressed out NHS workers have been suspended, disciplined or sacked for alcohol and drugs abuse in Scotland.

Around 80 medical staff were temporarily banned from their duties because of substance abuse, with a further 54 facing additional disciplinary action.

Up to 20 lost their jobs because of drink and drugs issues while some 50 were offered treatment to overcome their addiction.

But it is thought the figures, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation and excluding Tayside and Grampian health boards, represent only the tip of the iceberg.

UK wide, around 100 cases involving substance abuse end up in front of the regulatory body, the General Medical Council (GMC), every year.

A support organisation for dentists and doctors struggling with drugs and alcohol admitted it was a huge issue which was simply not being discussed.

In 2010, a study suggested as many as one in six doctors were addicted to either drink or drugs or both, with 15,000 having battled the problem at some point in their careers. However, there are no figures for nursing staff.

Another survey south of the Border revealed a third of male junior doctors and almost a fifth of females had used ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis and other illegal substances as their struggled to cope with pressures at work.

But little research has been done in Scotland, leading to fears the figures covering a five-year period to 2014 do not reflect the true picture.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway said it had disciplined 14 employees from unqualified nursing staff to GPs, anaesthetics and surgeons under the board’s substance misuse policy.

In the neighbouring NHS Borders management had to suspend fewer than five members of staff because of drugs or alcohol related issues while the Lothian health board also suspended or sacked a handful of people for substance abuse – all of them in 2011/12 – and offered treatment to around 10 people over two years.

In Ayrshire and Arran records have only been collected since 2011/12 and show that since then three people have been disciplined and suspended while four were offered treatment.

In NHS Lanarkshire seven doctors and nurses faced disciplinary action for the same reasons.

The biggest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, saw two doctors and 25 nurses suspended from work because of substance abuse over the five-year period while 29 were offered treatment. Across the country in Fife management have suspended fewer than five members of clinical staff a year leading to around 15 dismissals.

In NHS Forth Valley a handful of medical staff have been suspended from work for substance abuse since January 2014 while between January 2010 and February 2015 nine employees have been given the chance to seek treatment for their problem.

Since April 2011 less than five staff members have faced disciplinary or dismissal because of drink and drugs.

A spokeswoman insisted the incidents had no impact on planned appointments, treatments or surgeries and added: “On any occasion, when staff are unwell, appropriate cover arrangements are put in place.”

NHS Highlands dealt with fewer than 10 cases over the five-year period with management on the Western Isles forced to act just once. Orkney had no incidents and Shetland said it had so few it would not give out any further information.

Last night the GMC which monitors doctors’ fitness to practice UK wide said they only got involved in the most serious cases.

A spokesman added: “It’s important to mention that in general if a doctor is able to manage a health problem and maintain a good level of care for their patients then there is no need for us as their regulator to get involved.

“However, if a doctor has a health condition or a problem with alcohol or drugs that could put patients at risk, we need to know so that we can ensure patients are protected."

He said the GMC is introducing reforms to speed up and reduce the stress of any investigation and continued: “Between 2010 and 2013 there were 305 fitness to practise investigations where substance abuse was one of the allegations against a doctor - 193 of these led to a sanction or warning.”

The problem with doctors and dentists is that it is so hard to admit they have a problem because of the shame and stigma associated with it

The British Doctors’ and Dentists’ Group spokeswoman

The British Doctors’ and Dentists’ Group (BDDG), which works with medics who are recovering from addiction, has around 60 members north of the Border with groups operating in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

A spokeswoman said: "If you come to work impaired because you are coming down with flu and have high temperature or you are diabetic but don't know it and your sugar levels are all over the place you get sympathy and every effort is made that you recover.

"But if you come in smelling of booze it is a different story. You are immediately a disgrace.

"It would do us good to remember that not everyone who is drunk is an alcoholic and not every alcoholic is drunk.

"The problem with doctors and dentists is that it is so hard to admit they have a problem because of the shame and stigma associated with it. Yet research shows that those in the profession who admit they have a problem and go on to have treatment are very successful at it, more so than the general public.

"However, if you are suspended and facing an inquiry the stress of the situation is horrendous. Doctors often feel they've left the whole profession down and struggle to see beyond the shame they feel it has brought on everyone."